Security Council Open Debate: Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Conflicts in Europe 21 February, 2017

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Security Council Open Debate: Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Conflicts in Europe

21 February, 2017

Nikki R. Haley (centre), United States Permanent Representative to the UN, with Michele J. Sison, Deputy US Permanent Representative, at the Security Council debate on the topic, “Maintenance of international peace and security: Conflicts in Europe”. Credit: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

From territorial disputes in Nagorno-Karabakh, to the crises in Ukraine, and post-war peacebuilding in former Yugoslav republics, the February 21 Security Council debate on ‘Conflicts in Europe’ posed an opportunity for UN Member States to respond to conflicts on the European continent and bolster stability in the region. Prior to the debate, the Council’s current President, Ukraine, submitted a concept note framing the debate’s focus in the context of improving best practice sharing, addressing implementation gaps, and developing tools to resolve the relevant crises. Overall, the discussion yielded a number of positive outcomes related to the need for the peaceful resolution of conflict, the implementation of key agreements such as the Minsk Protocol, and broad condemnations for the use of force. However speakers at the debate fell short on a number of fronts: Peaceful rhetoric failed to translate into concrete commitments, speakers were unsuccessful in integrating substantive gender perspectives in the discussion, and disarmament language was almost entirely absent.

General Analysis

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres introduced the debate, emphasising that despite perceptions of inactivity or detente in many European conflicts, true security will remain elusive until such a time that peace agreements are adopted and successfully implemented. Guterres was succeeded by the Secretaries-General of the European Union, Helga Schmid, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Lamberto Zannier, who delivered briefings which highlighted coalition building, multilateral cooperation, and security sector reform.

The situations broached by the 53 member states present included the crisis in Ukraine; territorial disputes in South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, Cyprus, and Macedonia; and post-conflict situations in former Yugoslav Republics such as Bosnia, Serbia, Albania, and Kosovo. The debate reflected representatives’ widespread support for the Minsk Agreement and the Normandy Format for negotiations in Ukraine. Overall, the speakers emphasised the need for greater UN regional partnerships with organisations such as the OSCE and increased conflict prevention efforts. It is worth noting that despite the ambitious agenda set forth in the debate concept note, the discussion lacked any impactful discussion regarding best practices, overcoming implementation gaps, and the development of conflict prevention tools. Instead speakers relied on generic statements of support, without offering solutions.

At least 10 of the 53 statements delivered (19 percent) included condemnations for the use of force, naming it as a root cause of the conflicts under consideration and a primary catalyst for related issues such as the refugee crisis. However member state representatives failed to draw crucial connections between the use of force and the requirement of disarmament and demilitarisation for peace, only 3 representatives (6 percent) made any reference to monitoring, withdrawing, or abolishing weapons stores.

Regional Perspectives

Within the scope of WILPF’s focus regions, this debate provided a strong platform for discussion of the situations in Ukraine and Bosnia. Of the 53 statements delivered, 38 (72 percent) addressed the conflict in Ukraine, a majority of which levied criticism towards the Russian Federation for the unlawful annexation of Crimea, its support for separatists in Eastern Ukraine, and the violation of multiple ceasefires. The preservation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty garnered significant support as speakers called for the immediate implementation of the Minsk Protocol.

The post-conflict situation in Bosnia was addressed by 9 of the 53 representatives present (17 percent), many of whom endorsed continued attention on reconciliation efforts within the state. In particular the representative of Croatia recognised their state’s responsibility to bolster peace among its neighbors, and the representative of Brazil and the Secretary-General expressed concern regarding the erosion of security related to growing separatist sentiments involving Republika Srpska, and reaffirmed the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace. A handful of representatives also placed a limited focus on the crisis in Syria, by proxy of Russian Influence and emphasising the prospects of recent peace efforts in Astana.

Gender Analysis

The issues central in this debate provided member state representatives clear avenues to integrate gender perspectives in their statements, whether by addressing the persisting barriers to restoration and justice for sexual and gender-based violence in Bosnia; the gendered dimension of displacement and rights abuses, including rape as a weapon of war, in Ukraine; or highlighting the impact of engaging women’s peace activists in Nagorno-Karabakh. Yet these avenues were not taken, though general references to women’s inclusion and protection were integrated by a handful of states, no substantive context was offered.

Of the 53 statements delivered, 8 (15 percent) referenced issues relevant to Women Peace and Security. It is notable that each of these references lacked broader context, and in many cases were dropped into speeches as if mere afterthoughts. There are a few exceptions, the representative of Norway highlighted that the participation of women has a positive and measurable impact on the success and longevity of peace. The representative of Sweden called for women to be included in disarmament efforts. Finally, the representative of the OSCE underscored the role of women in peace processes and highlighted the role of UNSCR 1325 as an implementation tool. Other themes discussed included the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, the disproportionate impact of violence on the lives of women, and the need to protect vulnerable populations, including women.

Recommendations

Based on the trends observed in this debate, WILPF offers the following recommendations for the Security Council in addressing Conflicts in Europe:

Implementation- The Women Peace and Security Agenda must be considered, not as an afterthought, but as an essential prerequisite for peace. All peace processes and agreements should include gender-specific provisions, and facilitate the direct engagement of women’s civil society.

Disarmament- The Security Council must challenge and analyse the consequences of militarised security as the dominant world order. The Council must stigmatise and sanction arms proliferation to ensure human security and feminist peace.

Participation- The holistic implementation of the WPS Agenda is dependent on the Security Council promoting the meaningful participation of women who are committed to peace and justice in peace and social transformation processes at all levels.

Justice- For transformative peace, the Security Council must address gaps in women’s access to justice, particularly in situations like that of Bosnia and Herzegovina where impunity for sexual violence in conflict endures.

Speaker

Extracts

Country

Azerbaijan

Extracts

As a result of the massive artillery bombardment of Khojaly and the subsequent attack on and capture of the town, hundreds of Azerbaijanis, including women, children and the elderly were killed, wounded or taken hostage, while the town was razed to the ground.

Country

Sweden

Extracts

We must recognize the importance of peace and security of the EU Eastern Partnership, strengthen the European instruments for confidence- and security-building measures and convential arms control through the OSCE, actively engage in disarmament to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and involve women as actors in all of this.

Speaker

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Extracts

The inclusion of women in all stages of the conflict cycle is key. The OSCE has developed structures and policies to help its membership implement resolution 1325 (2000) and to ensure that women form a natural part of its peace-building efforts.

Country

Sweden

Extracts

We must recognize the importance of peace and security of the EU Eastern Partnership, strengthen the European instruments for confidence- and security-building measures and convential arms control through the OSCE, actively engage in disarmament to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and involve women as actors in all of this.

Country

Norway

Extracts

The Nordic countries will continue to promote the effective participation of women and the agenda on women and peace and security wherever there are discussions of peace and security. We urge the Council to work to ensure that gender equality and women’s rights are an integral part of its work, as they increase legitimacy and the possibilities for lasting peace.

Country

Montenegro

Extracts

We also believe that it is crucial to involve women and youth in the peacebuilding process as stakeholders and decision-makers, and that should be primarily the responsibility of all Member States and regions.

Country

Uruguay

Extracts

Uruguay takes note of reports on cases of human rights violations, including reports of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary- General, which stress accusations of killings, arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, refugee rights, impunity for crimes of sexual violence, and the need to clarify cases of forced disappearance, among other aspects.

Country

Norway

Extracts

The Nordic countries will continue to promote the effective participation of women and the agenda on women and peace and security wherever there are discussions of peace and security. We urge the Council to work to ensure that gender equality and women’s rights are an integral part of its work, as they increase legitimacy and the possibilities for lasting peace.

Speaker

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Extracts

The inclusion of women in all stages of the conflict cycle is key. The OSCE has developed structures and policies to help its membership implement resolution 1325 (2000) and to ensure that women form a natural part of its peace-building efforts.

Speaker

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Extracts

The inclusion of women in all stages of the conflict cycle is key. The OSCE has developed structures and policies to help its membership implement resolution 1325 (2000) and to ensure that women form a natural part of its peace-building efforts.

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